Talks To Be Held In Driver-Only Trains Row

Talks are set to be held today to resolve a dispute about driver-only trains at ScotRail as the two sides in the dispute continued to clash.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union issued new polling it said showed the overwhelming majority of people wanted guards on trains and were concerned about passenger safety on driver-only services.

The company said the poll "lacked credibility'', adding that any changes it would make would guarantee the role of the guard as well as their pay and conditions.

A ScotRail spokesman said: "The issue is only about who opens and closes the doors.

"At present in Scotland, more than half of our 95 million passenger journeys a year are operated safely and punctually in this manner - where the doors are opened and closed by the driver, with a second member of staff carrying out customer service duties. This has been happening, with the consent of the unions, for 30 years.

"We have already said that any changes we might wish to make in the future would guarantee the role of the conductor, their jobs, their pay and their terms and conditions. No-one will be redundant and no-one will lose their jobs.

"With all that in mind, we simply cannot understand why the RMT seem so intent on dragging us, our customers and our people into a dispute.''

Union members have voted by 3-1 in favour of strikes.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Now we know from this latest polling that the public overwhelmingly support retaining guards on ScotRail services.''